The game has begun. The process of differentiating mobile telephony service in France took on another dimension last week as France Telecom and SVP SA, an information and telephone help desk company, announced the October 1 launch of a range of services exclusive to France Telecom digital cellular subscribers. Over the last year, our main competitor [SFR] has nearly closed the gap with us in terms of network coverage. From now on, the important thing will be the extra services we provide, France Telecom Mobiles director Alain Lenoir said. The 10 initial services, which are all accessible from a single number – 711 – provide road and traffic reports, travel reservations, auto repair, medical assistance, restaurant information and reservations, taxi reservations, weather and stock market news. The service doesn’t, however come cheap. After this month, when it will be free, a call to SVP will cost the caller some 85 cents per minute on top of the 36 cents to 60 cents per minute call charge.
